Tie garment article

ABSTRACT

There is provided a tie garment article comprising a tie body having a first end portion and a second end portion; and a loop member being slidably coupled to a rear surface of the tie body, the loop member being dimensioned to receive the second end portion of the tie body and for retention therein when received, the loop member being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the tie body. There is also provided methods for wearing a tie garment article and methods for fabricating a tie garment article.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/602,722 filed on Jan. 22, 2015 and which claims priority onU.S. 61/930,933 filed on Jan. 23, 2014. These documents are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the field of tie garment articles. Inparticular, the present disclosure relates to tie garment articleshaving a displaceable loop for retaining a narrow end of the tie.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A tie is a garment article often worn around the neck of a person.Typically, when tied around the neck of the person, a wide portion ofthe tie and a narrow portion of the tie both extend from the person'sneck over the chest and stomach area. Typically, the wide portion ispositioned over the narrow portion so that the narrow portion can behidden from view behind the wide portion. Furthermore, to aid inretaining the narrow portion behind the wide portion, an end of thenarrow portion is inserted through a fixed loop provided on a rearsurface of the wide portion of the tie.

Many different ways of tying the tie around the neck are known.Typically, these ways are differentiated by the type of knot formed atthe front of the person's neck. Such knots can include a Windsor knot,half-Windsor knot, four in hand knot, Pratt knot, etc. Different knotsmay require a different length of the tie to be used in forming theknot, which further result in different lengths of the narrow portion ofthe tie extending from the person's neck. Furthermore, when worn bypeople of different height, or torso length, the length of the narrowportion of the tie to extend from the person's neck may also different.Furthermore, different individuals have different personal preferencesas to the length of the extension of the wide portion of the tie whentied, which further results in different lengths of the narrow portionextending from the person's neck.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It would thus be highly desirable to be provided with an apparatus or amethod that would at least partially solve one of the problemspreviously mentioned or that would be an alternative to the existingtechnologies.

According to one aspect, there is provided a tie garment articlecomprising: a tie body having a first end portion and a second endportion, a loop member being slidably coupled to a rear surface of thetie body, the loop member being dimensioned to receive the second endportion of the tie body and for retention therein when received, theloop member being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the tie body.

According to another aspect, there is provided method for fabricating atie garment article. The method includes forming a loop member having aconnecting sub-loop, inserting a connecting member through theconnecting sub-loop of the loop member and joining ends of theconnecting member to a rear surface of a tie body, the loop member beingslidably coupled to the tie body via the connecting member.

According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method for wearinga tie garment article. The method includes forming a knot with anintermediate portion of the tie garment article, whereby a wide endportion and a narrow end portion extends from the knot, adjusting aslidable loop of the wide end portion to a desired distance forreceiving the narrow end portion and inserting the narrow end portioninto the slidable loop for retention therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings represent examples that are presented in anon-limitative manner.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art tie garmentarticle;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a rear surface of an end portion of theprior art tie garment article;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a rear surface of an end portion of atie garment article having a slidably coupled loop member according tovarious exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of an end portion of the tiegarment article having a slidably coupled loop member according tovarious exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of an end portion of the tiegarment article having a slidably coupled loop member being positionedin a first sliding position according to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the tie garment article having aslidably coupled loop member being positioned in the first slidingposition according to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the tie garment articlehaving a slidably coupled loop member being positioned in the secondsliding position according to various exemplary embodiments

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation view of an end portion of the tiegarment article having a slidably coupled loop member being positionedin a second sliding position according to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the tie garment article having aslidably coupled loop member being positioned in the second slidingposition according to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevation view of the tie garment articlehaving a slidably coupled loop member being positioned in the secondsliding position according to various exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a front section view of a slidably coupled loopmember and connecting member of a tie garment article according tovarious exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following examples are presented in a non-limitative manner.

The expression “coupled” as used herein can have several differentmeanings depending on the context in which these terms are used. Forexample, the terms coupled or coupling can have a mechanicalconnotation. For example, as used herein, the terms coupled or couplingcan indicate that two elements can be directly coupled to one another orcoupled to one another through one or more intermediate elements ordevices via a mechanical element. For example, with respect to fabrics,two fabric pieces may be coupled by sewing or other methods for joiningfabric pieces known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 1, therein illustrated is a top view of a priorart tie garment article 1. The prior art tie garment article includes anelongated tie body 4 having a first end portion 8, a second end portion16 and an intermediate portion 24 between the first end portion 8 andthe second end portion 8. Typically, the first end portion 8 is widerthan the second end portion 16. When the tie garment article 1 is wornaround the neck of a person, the intermediate portion 24 wraps aroundthe neck and forms a knot and the first end portion 8 and second endportion 16 extend from the neck over the chest and stomach area of theperson.

Referring now to FIG. 2, therein illustrated is a plan view of a rearsurface of the first end portion 8 of the prior art tie garment 1. Thefirst end portion 8 include a loop member 32 coupled to the rear surface40 of the first end portion 8 at a fixed distance 48 away from the firstend 56 of the tie body 4. For example, the first end 56 corresponds to awide end of the tie body 4. The fixed loop member 32 defines with therear surface 40 an opening 64 that is dimensioned according to a size ofthe second end portion 16 of the tie body 4. When the tie garmentarticle 1 is tied around a person's neck, the second end portion 16 ofthe neck tie can be inserted through the opening 64 defined by the fixedloop member 32 so as to be retained by the fixed loop member 32.

As discussed above, due to different types of knots formed with the tiebody 4, different body heights of the wearer, or different individualtie-wearing preferences of the wearer, the length of the second endportion 16 that extends from the neck of the wearer may be different.Accordingly, the length of the second end portion 16 that extends intoand/or past the fixed loop member 32 can also be varying. This varyingof the lengths can further cause the second end portion 16 to beretained in different ways by the fixed loop member 32, which may causediscomfort to the wearer and/or affect the aesthetic appearance of thetie 1. In some cases, the length of the second end portion 16 extendingfrom the neck may be insufficient to reach the fixed loop member 32 tobe retained therein. Accordingly, the second end portion 16 will hangfreely, which may cause further annoyance, discomfort and/or affectaesthetic appearance.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, therein illustrated is a top view and aside elevation view, respectively, of an end portion of a tie garmentarticle 100 having a slidably coupled loop member 104 according tovarious exemplary embodiments. The tie garment article 100 includes atie body 102 having a first end portion 108, a second end portion 116and an intermediate portion 125 between the first end portion and thesecond end portion. For example, first end portion 108 is wider than thesecond end portion 116. For example, the tie body 102 of the tie garmentarticle 100 may be similar to the elongated tie body 4 of the prior arttie garment article 1.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the slidably coupled loopmember 104 is coupled to a rear surface 128 of the tie body 102 at alocation proximate but spaced apart from a first end 124 of the tie body102. For example, the first end 124 corresponds to a wide end of thefirst end portion 108 of the tie body 102.

The slidably coupled loop member 104 is coupled to the rear surface 128so as to be slidably displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the tiebody 102. The longitudinal direction 132 of the tie body 102 is denotedby arrow 132 in FIG. 3 and can be defined as a direction along theelongation of the tie body 102 between its first end 124 and a secondend 136 of the second end portion 116.

The slidably coupled loop member 104 is slidably displaceable between atleast a first position and a second position. In the first position, theslidably coupled loop member 104 is located at a first longitudinaldistance from the first end 124 of the tie body 102. In the secondposition, the slidably coupled loop member 104 is located at secondlongitudinal distance from the first end 124 of the tie body 102. Thefirst longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance aredifferent so that when positioned in the second position the slidablycoupled loop member 104 is located at a further longitudinal distancefrom the first end 124 of the tie body 102 than when positioned in thefirst position.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the first position may belocated at a longitudinal distance of approximately 8, 10, 12, 15 or 18centimeters from the first end 124.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the second position may belocated at a longitudinal distance of approximately 18, 20, 22, 25 or 28centimeters from the first end 124.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the difference between thefirst longitudinal distance of the first position and the secondlongitudinal distance of the second position may be approximately 3, 5,10, or 15 centimeters.

The slidably coupled loop member 104 is dimensioned to receive thesecond end portion 116 of the tie body 102. When the second end portion116 is received within the slidably coupled loop member 104, theslidably coupled loop member 104 further retains the second end portion116. Accordingly, the second end portion 116 cannot be easily disengagedfrom the slidably coupled loop member 104 without an application ofexternal force on at least one of the slidably coupled loop member 104and the second end portion 116.

For example, the slidably coupled loop member 104 defines an opening 140oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 132 ofthe tie body 102. The opening 140 is sized according to a width andthickness of the second end portion 116 of the tie body 102 so that thesecond end portion 116 can enter the opening 140 and be retainedtherein. For example, retention of the second end portion 116 within theslidably coupled loop member 104 is provided by frictional engagement ofan outer surface of the second end portion 116 with an inner surface ofthe slidably coupled loop member 104.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the slidably coupled loopmember 104 can further comprise an aperture 106. For example, theaperture 106 is defined in a wall of the slidably coupled loop member104 and may be oriented generally perpendicular to the opening 140defined by the slidably coupled loop member 104. For example, theaperture 106 can be a buttonhole for receiving a button of a shirt.Accordingly, the aperture 106 can be for releasable connection with thebutton of the shirt.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slidably coupled loop member 104 islocated at a position intermediate the first position and the secondposition.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, therein illustrated are a sideelevation view a first end portion, a top view and a side elevation viewof a tie garment article 100, respectively, according to variousexemplary embodiments wherein the slidably coupled loop member 104 ispositioned at its first position. It will be appreciated that theslidably coupled loop member 104 is located proximate the first end 124of the tie body 102.

FIGS. 6 and 7 further illustrate a second end portion 116 of the tiebody 102 being received within the slidably coupled loop member 104. Asillustrated, the second end portion 116 projects through the opening 140defined by the slidably coupled loop member 104. It will be furtherappreciated that when the tie body 102 forms a knot 148, the second endportion 116 extends from the knot 148 so that a second end 136 of thetie body is located proximate the first end 124 of the tie body 102. Itwill be further appreciated that by positioning the slidably coupledloop member 104 in its first position proximate the first end 124 of thetie body 102, the location of the slidably coupled loop member 104substantially corresponds with the location of the second end 136 of thetie body 102 so that a region of the second end portion 116 proximatethe second end 136 is received within the slidably coupled loop member104.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, therein illustrated are a sideelevation view of a first end portion, a top view and a side elevationview of a tie garment article 100, respectively, according to variousexemplary embodiments wherein the slidably coupled loop member 104 ispositioned at its second position. It will be appreciated that theslidably coupled loop member 104 is located at a greater distance fromthe first end 124 of the tie body 102 than when located in its firstposition.

FIGS. 9 and 10 further illustrate the second end portion 116 of the tiebody 102 being received within the slidably coupled loop member 104. Asillustrated, the second end portion 116 projects through the opening 140defined by the slidably coupled loop member 104. It will be appreciatedthat when the tie body 102 forms the knot 148, the second end portion116 extends from the knot 148 so that the second end 136 of the tie bodyis located at a greater distance from the first end 116. For example,the length of the second end portion 116 extending from the knot 148illustrated in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10 is less than the length ofthe second end portion 116 extending from the knot 148 of theillustrated example of FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, the distance of thesecond end 136 away from the first end 124 is greater than a distance ofa fixed loop member 32 of a typical prior art tie garment article 1 awayfrom the first end 124.

It will be further appreciated that by positioning the slidably coupledloop member 104 in its second position at a distance from the first end124 of the tie body 102, the location of the slidably coupled loopmember 104 substantially corresponds to the location of the second end136 of the tie body 102. For example region of the second end portion116 proximate the second 136 is received within the slidably coupledloop member 104. For example, the length of the second end portion 116extending past the slidably coupled loop member 104 in the example ofFIGS. 9 and 10 may be substantially equal to the length of the secondend portion 116 extending past the slidably coupled loop member 104 inthe example of FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, despite the length of thesecond end portion 116 extending from the knot 148 in the example ofFIGS. 6 and 7 being different from the length of the example of FIGS. 9and 10, the second end portion 116 is retained in the same manner inboth examples due to the sliding displacement of the slidably coupledloop member 104 between its first and second positions.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 to 10, according to various exemplaryembodiments, the slidably coupled loop member 104 is coupled to the rearsurface of the tie body via a connecting member 156. The connectingmember 156 may be an elongated member having a first end 164 and asecond end 172 being both coupled to the rear surface 128 of the tiebody 102. An intermediate portion 180 of the connecting member 156located between the first end 164 and second 172 is spaced apart fromthe rear surface 128. For example, the first end 164 and the second end172 may be both folded inwardly towards one another and coupled to therear surface 128 by stitching. For example, the connecting member 156may form a loop on the rear surface 128 of the tie body. For example, atleast the intermediate portion 180 of the connecting member 156 isoriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie body 102.

The slidably coupled loop member 104 engages the intermediate portion180 of the connecting member 156 so as to be slidable thereon. Forexample, the intermediate portion 180 defines the range of the slidabledisplacement of the slidably coupled loop member 104.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the connecting member is anelongated member. One end of the elongated member is coupled to the rearsurface 128 of the tie body 102 and another end of the elongated memberincludes a stop. For example, the end of the elongated member having thestop is disengaged from the rear surface 128. Accordingly, the slidablycoupled loop member 104 is slidable between its first position whereatit abuts against the stop and its second position. For example, therange of sliding displacement of the slidably coupled loop member 104 isdefined by the stop and the end of the elongated member coupled to therear surface 128.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the connecting member 156and the slidably connected loop member 104 are formed of the samematerial. For example, the connecting member 156 and the slidablyconnected loop member 104 may be formed of the same material as the tiebody 102.

Referring now to FIG. 11, therein illustrated is front section view of aslidably coupled loop member 104 being slidably engaged to theintermediate portion 180 of the connecting member 156 according tovarious exemplary embodiments. For example, the slidably coupled loopmember 104 includes a connecting portion 188 for slidable connectionwith the connecting member 156. For example, the connecting portion 188forms a connecting sub-loop defining an opening 192 dimensioned toreceive therethrough the intermediate portion 180 of the connectingmember 156. For example, the inner surface of the connecting sub-loop188 frictionally engages an outer surface of the intermediate portion180 of the connecting member 156 to restrict displacement of theslidably coupled loop member 104. Accordingly, the slidably coupled loopmember 104 cannot be easily displaced along the length of theintermediate portion 180 of the connecting member 156 without anapplication external force. For example, the frictional engagement ofthe connecting sub-loop 188 with the connecting member 156 provides aretention force of the slidably coupled loop member 104 that is greaterthan the weight of the slidably coupled loop member 104. Accordingly,when the tie garment article 100 is worn so that the first end portion108 and second end portion 116 both hang vertically from a wearer'sneck, the slidably coupled loop member 104 will retain its positionalong the length of the intermediate portion 180 of the connectingmember 156 and will not slide due to only the force of gravity.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the connecting sub-loop 188 isformed from overlapping end regions of the slidably coupled loop member104. A first end region 196 overlaps with a second end region 204 of theloop member to form the connecting sub-loop 188 and define the opening192. For example, a first end 208 of the loop member 204 may be stitchedto the second end region 204 at a location spaced apart from a secondend 216 of the loop member 104. Additionally, the second end 216 may bestitched to the first end region 196 at a position spaced apart from thefirst end 208 of the loop member 104.

According to an exemplary method for fabricating a tie garment article,the loop member 104 is formed from a suitable material, such as atextile material. The loop member 14 may have the connecting sub-loop188. The loop member 104 is further engaged with the connecting member156 by inserting the connecting member 156 through the connectingsub-loop 188 of the loop member 104. First and second ends 164, 172 ofthe connecting member 156 are further joined to a rear surface 128 of atie body so that the loop member 104 is slidably coupled to the tie body102 via the connecting member 156.

According to the exemplary method, the connecting sub-loop member 188may be formed by overlapping a first end region 126 of the loop memberwith a second end region 204 of the loop member 104, stitching a firstend 208 of the loop member 104 with the second end region of the loopmember 104 at a first location spaced apart from the second end 216 ofthe loop member 104 and stitching the second end 216 of the loop memberwith the first end region 126 of the loop member 104 at a secondlocation spaced apart from the first end 208 of the loop member 104.

For example, the exemplary method further includes stitching a first end164 of the connecting member 156 to the tie body 102 at a first alongitudinal distance from the first end of the tie body 104 andstitching the second end 172 of the connecting member 156 to the tiebody 102 at a second longitudinal distance from the first end 124 of thetie body 102, the second longitudinal distance being different from thefirst longitudinal distance.

According to an exemplary embodiment for wearing a tie garment article,a knot is formed with an intermediate portion of the tie garment articlewhereby a wide end portion and a narrow end portion extends from theknot. A slidable loop member of the wide end portion is adjusted to adesired distance for receiving the narrow end portion. For example, theslidably loop member may be the slidably coupled loop member 104 of thetie garment article 100 according to various exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein. A narrow end portion is then inserted into theslidable loop member for retention therein. For example, the slidableloop member is adjusted according to the length of the narrow endportion extending from the knot. For example, the slidable loop memberis adjusted to a desired distance from the wide end of the tie garmentarticle.

Additionally or alternatively, the slidable loop member 104 can beadjusted to a desired distance so as to receive a predetermined buttonof the wearer's shirt into a button hole of the slidable loop member.The predetermined button of the shirt can then be inserted into thebutton hole to form a releasable connection between the button and theslidable loop member. Accordingly, the wide end portion is furtherattached to the wearer's shirt. Accordingly, where the narrow endportion of the tie garment article is retained within the slidable loopmember, the narrow end portion is also releasable attached with thewearer's shirt.

For example, different people may have different preferences as to thelength of the narrow portion extending from the knot. Accordingly, theymay have a different preference as to the predetermined button forattaching to the slidable loop member. Accordingly, the predeterminedbutton can be located at a given length or distance from the knot. Forexample, the predetermined button can be the 2^(nd), 3^(rd), 4^(th), or5^(th) button of the wearer's shirt away from the shirt collar.

The present disclosure has been described with regard to specificexamples. The description was intended to help the understanding of thedisclosure, rather than to limit its scope. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that various modifications can be made to thedisclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure asdescribed herein, and such modifications are intended to be covered bythe present document.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A method for wearing a tie garment article comprising: forming a knot with an intermediate portion of the tie garment article, whereby a wide end portion and a narrow end portion extends from the knot; adjusting a slidable loop member of the wide end portion to a desired distance for receiving the narrow end portion and/or for receiving a predetermined button of a shirt into a button hole comprised in said slidable loop member; and inserting the narrow end portion into the slidable loop member for retention therein and/or inserting the predetermined button of the shirt in the button hole of the slidable loop member for releasable connection therewith.
 21. A tie garment article consisting of: a tie body having a first end portion and a second end portion; and a loop member being slidably coupled to a rear surface of the tie body via a connecting member, the loop member being dimensioned to receive the second end portion of the tie body and for retention therein when received, the loop member being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the tie body, wherein the connecting member is an elongated member, a first end and second end of the elongated member being coupled to the rear surface of the tie body and an intermediate portion of the elongated member between the first and second ends being spaced apart from the rear surface, the loop member being engaged with and being slidable about the intermediate portion, wherein the loop member comprises a connecting portion for slidable connection with the connecting member, wherein said connecting portion comprises a connecting sub-loop being dimensioned for receiving therethrough the intermediate portion of the connecting member and an inner surface of the connecting sub-loop frictionally engages an outer surface of the connecting member to restrict displacement of the slidably coupled loop member, wherein the loop member is slidably coupled to the rear surface of the tie body proximate the first end of the tie body, wherein the loop member defines an opening oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the tie body, the second end portion projecting into the opening when received in the loop member, wherein the intermediate portion of the connecting member is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie body, wherein the frictional engagement of the connecting sub-loop with the connecting member provides a retention force of the loop member greater than a weight of the loop member, wherein the loop member comprises an aperture adapted to receive a button of a shirt for releasable connection therewith, wherein the connecting member is an elongated member, one end of the elongated member being coupled to the rear surface of the tie body and another end of the elongated member comprises a stop, said loop member being slidable between said first position whereat said loop member abuts said stop and said second position, and wherein the connecting member, the loop member and the tie body are formed of the same material.
 22. The tie garment article of claim 21, wherein the loop member is slidable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the loop member being positioned at a first longitudinal distance from the first end of the tie body and in the second position the loop member being positioned at a second longitudinal distance from the first end of the tie body, the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance being different.
 23. The tie garment article of claim 22, wherein the difference between the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance is at least 3 cm.
 24. The tie garment article of claim 1, wherein a first end region of the loop member overlaps with a second end region of the loop member to form the connecting sub-loop.
 25. The tie garment article of claim 21, wherein said aperture is a buttonhole. 